“ASAN Service” Expands the Scope of the “Skills for the Future” Project
On January 24, 2025, the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan organized a “Demo Day” event.
The event, held within the framework of the “Skills for the Future” project by the Innovation Center, was dedicated to the results of a six-month incubation program implemented in collaboration with Turkey's “Bilishim Vadisi” and the presentation of the annual report.
At the event, the Chairman of the State Agency, Ulvi Mehdiyev, Deputy Minister of Science and Education, Idris Isayev, Chairman of the Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency, Orkhan Mammadov, BP's Vice President for Foreign Relations and Communications in the Caspian Region, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, Director of “Bilishim Vadisi”, Erkam Tuzgen, as well as rectors of higher education institutions in Azerbaijan, participated.
Officials first visited the stands where startup teams presented their projects. Following this, a Memorandum of Understanding on “Collaboration in the Formation and Development of Innovation Ecosystems in Universities” was signed between the State Agency and the newly joined Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction and Nakhchivan State University.
The event included speeches by officials and the screening of a video highlighting the achievements of the project.
After the presentation of 10 startup projects, a jury evaluated them, selecting the top 5 projects, which were awarded a special prize from “Bilishim Vadisi”
As part of the six-month incubation program conducted in collaboration with Turkey’s “Bilishim Vadisi” 47 teams initially registered, 30 were selected, and 10 teams earned the right to participate. Throughout the program, Turkish experts conducted training sessions in various fields.
Launched in April 2021, the “Skills for the Future” project aims to enhance human resources in the innovation sector, support innovation activities in education, assist students in developing their innovative ideas, and guide them toward the field of invention, which plays a key role in the country's technological advancement.
During the project, partnerships were established with 12 higher education institutions, and over 2,000 students submitted 181 startup ideas. With the support of more than 130 trained mentors, 98 startup teams were formed. As a result of the incubation programs, 19 startup teams presented their projects, and based on the jury’s evaluation, three teams were awarded.